Yarra Valley autumn

 

Yarra Valley in autumn colour

 

Are we having fun yet?

By the seaside, St Kilda, Melbourne 

Perfect summer

Cricket on the village green, Hobart Tasmania. Mount Wellington in the background, and the St John's bell tower to the left. 

Wild Oates XI wins the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Colonial cannon fires as Wild Oates crosses the line in Hobart, two days after leaving Sydney. She set a race record, was handicap winner, and line honours winner - the only yacht to do this since the boat that won the first race more than fifty years ago. 

Gypsy

 

Leaving Circular Quay

We caught a Sydney ferry to Neutral Bay and wandered around the forehore to Mosman point ... Sydney ferries have an excellent web site that describes the walk. Here we are leaving the Quay, the Opera House in the distance. Note the warning at the front of the ferry! 

Sydney Opera House

 

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Landmark you can walk across ... or over for that matter! 

Nice neighbourhood!

Our ferry takes us past Admiralty House and Kirribilli House, home of the Governor General and Prime Minister of Australia 

Prime Minister's residence

Kirribili House ... where the Prime Minister of Australia lives (I think). Well, I used to think it was the house next door - which I have now found out is Admiralty House, and home of the Governor General. Both are on the Sydney Harbour, so entertainment on New Year's eve is always guaranteed! 

Thai restaurant, Neutral Bay

Setting out past a restaurant in Neutral Bay ... feeling hungry already! 

Nutcote

The house of May Gibbs, built by her in 1925 and eventually taken over by local council when neighbours protested that a developer wanted to demolish it. May Gibbs is a well known Australian author of children's stories. The house has fantastic views of Neutral Bay, as shown in the previous picture. 

Noisy neighbours you wont mind

A noisy flock of natives feeding on blossom ... I may be wrong, but I think these are rainbow lorikeets 

Shell Cove, Sydney

There was a weather board "shack" just to the right of where this picture was taken - still occupied, and un renovated. Million dollar view. 

Shell Cove and the City of Sydney

Walking from Nutcote to Cremorne point the most fantastic views of the city can be found 

Walk on the Sydey harbour

After catching a ferry to Cremorne we walked around the point. Here is a fantastic public pool with the best view in Sydney! 

Minister launches Mental Health Strategic Plan

On 9 February the Deputy Premier of Tasmania, David Llewllyn, launched the Mental Health Services Strategic Plan, 2006 - 2011. Rob had played a major part in the writing and coordination of input into the plan, so it was a great day for him. The band "Brainstormers" played at the launch. Here the Minister appreciates the music. 

clouds over Taroona

We went walking on Boxing Day, December 26 2005 - the Sydney to Hobart race had commenced, and it would not be long before the first boat finished - it set a race record, being only the second boat in the history of the race to collect line honors, the race record, and first on handicap. Can't remember its name.